THE future of the historic Dingley Dell cottage museum near Port MacDonnell is under a cloud amid negotiations under way over its future.
The cottage – home to a treasure-trove of historical items – was owned by Australian poet, horseman, artist and writer Adam Lindsay Gordon and is now closed to the public.
It is understood historical items belonging to the poet – who is famous for his Blue Lake leap on horseback – have been catalogued and are now being stored offsite.
The Limestone Coast museum housed the most important collection of Gordon-related artefacts in the world.
Dingley Dell Conservation Park was operated by long standing leasees Allan and Jenny Childs, who have stepped away from holding tours and managing the site.
The property – which includes 101 acres of land – is owned by the South Australian Government and under the control of the state’s environment department.
Talks are under way between the department and Grant District Council about the site’s future.
THE Department for Environment and Water (DEW) says it is exploring options to reopen Dingley Dell.
Grant district deputy mayor Gill Clayfleld – who raised the issue at the council meeting this week – said Dingley Dell was an important tourism and historical gem.
The elected member said it important all items from the cottage remained in the region and were not taken to Adelaide.
Cr Clayfield also called for authorities to make the issue public so a solution could be found.
“If no one knows the lease is up, how is anybody going to put their hand up?,” Cr Clayfield said.
“We need to get this out there, someone might be willing to go in there.”
Speaking at the meeting, Grant District Council deputy chief executive officer Jane Fetherstonhaugh said council met with department officials last week regarding this issue.
She said the department foreshadowed working with council to find an “alternative use”.
“We will be meeting with the department again in the next couple of weeks. They are quite open to someone else taking it over,” Ms Fetherstonhaugh said.
“There are a lot of ideas, but nothing is yet happening with it.”
Dingley Dell Cottage and heritage museum in 1980 became the first building to be listed on the South Australia Heritage Register.
The South Australian Government purchased the property in 1922 after significant lobbying from the community.
The eccentric and talented Adam Lindsay Gordon lived at Dingley Dell from 1864 until 1867.
It was during his stay that his first poem was published outside of a newspaper or magazine.
He was not only known for his cavalier nature as a horseman, with the tale of his leap at Blue Lake in 1864, a part of local folklore, but also for his flamboyant parliamentary life, courageous deeds and poetry that romanticised the Australian bush.
The Dingley Dell region was the inspiration behind much of his poetry.
Gordon is the only Australian poet to have his bust in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey.
